Like Napoleon feeling the first chill of an approaching Russian winter, the Dems face reality:

House Democrats proposed repealing a piece of the health care overhaul Friday, a move designed to thwart Republican efforts to do the same thing and declare an early victory in their efforts to repeal the whole law.

Democrats proposed repealing new IRS reporting requirements that small business has warned would be overly burdensome. But they attached a new tax on Americans conducting business overseas— essentially a poison pill for Republicans who are unlikely to support a new tax.

Is there any good idea to which Dems would not attach a tax? (Via Hot Air.)

The left would like us to believe we can paper over or ignore our differences with the tyrants of the world. But in the past week we have the un-nosed Afghan woman and this:

North Korea’s football team has been shamed in a six-hour public inquisition and the team’s coach has been accused of “betraying” the reclusive leader’s heir apparent following their failure at the World Cup, according to reports.

The entire squad was forced onto a stage at the People’s Palace of Culture and subjected to criticism from Pak Myong-chol, the sports minister, as 400 government officials, students and journalists watched.

The players were subjected to a “grand debate” on July 2 because they failed in their “ideological struggle” to succeed in South Africa, Radio Free Asia and South Korean media reported.

Ah, North Korea, where only soccer can be debated, and even that isn’t really a debate.

The team’s coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reportedly forced to become a builder and has been expelled from the Workers’ Party of Korea.

And by “builder” they don’t mean a contractor overseeing the building of McMansions, they mean “laborer.”

Our enemies may be kooks, but they are not to be trifled with. (Via Drudge.)

President Barack Obama has kept mum on the fate of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) for days -- but he tells CBS News that it’s time for the embattled 80-year-old former Ways and Means Chairman to end his career “with dignity.”

“I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served-- his constituents very well. But these-- allegations are very troubling,” Obama told Harry Smith in an interview to be aired on the “Early Show.” and first broadcast on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

“And he’ll-- he’s somebody who’s at the end of his career. Eighty years old. I’m sure that-- what he wants is to be able to-- end his career with dignity. And my hope is that-- it happens.”

Translation: “I’m the first black president. I could put on a hood and burn crosses on lawns and black people would still vote to re-elect me in 2012. And nobody but black people wants to keep Charlie Rangel. I need to hold as many seats as I can this fall, and Rangel has to go.” (Via Drudge.)